Report Prepared by: Scott McBride, City Manager
Title
SUBJECT: Downtown Parking Discussion
REPORT IN BRIEF
Provide direction to staff regarding Downtown Parking including but not limited to directing this to a Standing City Council Subcommittee, creating an Ad Hoc City Council Subcommittee, or referring back to staff for placement on a future Council meeting.
RECOMMENDATION
City Council to provide direction to staff regarding the appropriate forum for future discussions concerning Downtown Parking.
Body
ALTERNATIVES
1. Refer back to staff; or,
2. Direct this item to a Standing City Council Subcommittee or create an Ad Hoc City Council Subcommittee; or,
3. Continue item to a future Council meeting (date and time to be specified in City Council motion).
DISCUSSION
At the City Council meeting of October 5, 2026, Council Member Harris requested that a discussion about downtown parking be placed on a future Council meeting. Mayor Serratto had previously requested that staff provide an update on W 18th Street including the potential conversion to allow additional parking through the creation of diagonal parking stalls.
Staff is seeking guidance on the ability to combine these topics into one or if the Council prefers discussing the topics separately. Staff is also requesting direction on how to proceed with this topic. Some options include referring to a Standing City Council Subcommittee, creating an Ad Hoc City Council Subcommittee, or referring to staff for placement on a future Council agenda.
For background, the city has established a parking authority with assets in the central core or Downtown Merced. These include several public parking lots and two parking structures. In addition to these off-street parking options there are also street parking spaces within the public right of way which are managed and maintained by the city.
Downtown Merced is experiencing a renaissance sparked by the redevelopment of the El Capitan Hotel, Tioga Apartm...
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